Commencement is a cause for celebration, and family and friends are an important part of this tradition. Inviting guests to join virtually is the best way to allow a safe, in-person Commencement experience for our graduates.
The safety and well-being of the campus community led to this decision. It was made in close consultation with UW Health, University Health Services, and Dane County, which has guided our successful COVID-19 response for the past year. CDC guidelines recommend that people avoid travel because of the continued pandemic across the U.S. and globe.
The in-person ceremonies are contingent on continued progress in controlling COVID-19 on campus and in the community. Health and safety requirements will include physical distancing and the wearing of face coverings. Participating graduates will need to be part of the Safer Badgers testing program and show a green “access granted” Badger Badge on their Safer Badgers mobile app for entrance to Camp Randall. “Access granted” signifies adherence to campus safety protocols, including having a recent negative COVID-19 test result on file. Limiting in-person ceremonies to graduates only allows us to use our proven public health strategy to ensure a safe Commencement celebration.